Will standard size hens hurt a bantam hen?

[nan4848]

A friend of ours brought what I believe is a Dutch bantam hen (I looked at pictures and am pretty sure that's what she is) that he found in his backyard to our house, as he could not locate where she came from, and no one answered ads. My husband said we'd take her without asking me. I hate that. Now it's my problem.

My question is: I have 9 standard size hens, 1 and 2 yrs old. After a quarantine period can I introduce her into the existing flock? Or will they kill her? I plan on setting up a large dog kennel in the run for her to stay in so they can get used to her for a couple of weeks. I just don't know how this will work out. I do have a small chicken tractor that she can stay in for a short period of time, but I have 3 chicks currently in the brooder that will go in there when they are big enough.

Ideally I'd like to find a home for her

She's very sweet and friendly, appears to be in good health, and I'm pretty sure is full grown. But she's less than half the size of my standard size hens. If they can co-exist I'll keep her.

 

[RollinWithTheStones]

Last year I had 6 full sized girls and one bantam hen. The bantam ruled the roost and she was the baby of the flock. Just keep an eye on her, I'd start by putting her in a wire dog kennel inside the coop for a few days and then letting her out bit by bit.

 

[Moonkit]

I keep a mixed flock with 5 standard hens and 4 bantams.. they get along fine. One bantam was introduced as an adult to the adult flock.. She was kept in a large bird cage in the run so that they could see and talk to her and she could them, but not actual physical interaction was possible. We kept her in there for about 2 weeks until we saw a shift in their behavior from defensively aggressive to curious and even welcoming (we caught one of the large breeds and another bantam sitting next to the cage and 'chatting' with her.. she was sitting next to the wire as close as she could get to them).

When we finally let her loose with the others during foraging time.. there were two minor chest bump/kicking fights (with 2 of the large breed hens no less) that she won, and after that, it was like she'd always been a part of the flock. The fights were actually funny because it was like watch the fight scene in the Matrix.

 

[nan4848]

Thanks. That's what I was thinking of doing. I just didn't know if she would be too small to defend herself. I have a couple mean girls in the existing flock. Maybe they will have to do kennel/jail time if they pick on her.

 

[Moonkit]

Do expect some minor fighting when she's first let loose with them.. even after the introduction period via the cage/pen/whatever. She has to find her position in the flock, be it as the top hen or the low girl on the totem pole. Your job is just to make sure that it doesn't get too bloody.

Like I said.. my little d'uccle mix(to give you an idea of her size) had two brief fights with the 2 black australorps (full size girls, my largest actually.) But they only involved chest bumping and a few kicks each that did no damage to either party.

 

[nan4848]

Thanks again guys. You've set my mind at ease. She's less than half the size of the other girls, 3 of which are Australorps.

Besides my hubby has become so attached already that he'd have the others go to freezer camp if they hurt her. I'm starting to like her also instead of thinking more work, albeit short term, to introduce her.

 

[moody-chicken]

Many many years ago I had a large fowl buff Orpington called Molly with two silkie bantam mixes called gold tops. They were seriously tiny things, smaller than pekins or any bantam I've seen but they didnt get pushed around by Molly. They were quick and light on their feet, had a feisty attitude to other hens and animals and they ruled over the Orpington, my brahma mix and a leghorn. I miss those girls, they were awesome. I think it depends on the hen.